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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 20th AF 313th BW 504th BG 389th BS |
Pilot Captain Cruger G. Edgerton, O-433085 (MIA / KIA) Branford, CT Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Elba G. Hunt, O-826970 (MIA / KIA, BR) Collingsworth, TX Navigator 2nd Lt. John V. McIntyre, O-2072817 (MIA / KIA, BR) Bad Axe, MI Bombardier 2nd Lt. Alex J. Alexander, O-773275 (MIA / KIA, BR) Atlas, PA Engineer TSgt William G. Hartman, 16028072 (MIA / KIA, BR) Gettysburg, SD Radio SSgt Rolland W. Hensley, 17067376 (MIA / KIA, BR) Des Moines, IA CFC Sgt Joseph A. Sassaman, Jr., 33827526 (MIA / KIA, BR) Allentown, PA Left Blister Sgt Walter L. Gilbert, Sr., 6965526 (MIA / KIA, BR) Forest City, NC Right Blister Sgt Alfred C. Farr, 17053846 (MIA / KIA, BR) Mandan, ND Rear Gunner Sgt Ellsworth Johnson, 16117265 (MIA / KIA, BR) Nadeau, MI Tail Gunner SSgt Frederick Campbell, 34849244 (MIA / KIA, BR) Columbia, SC Passenger 1st Lt. Lawson R. Chronister, Jr., O-873691 (MIA / KIA) Little Rock, AR Crashed May 25, 1945 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Boeing. Constructors Number 7409. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29A-20-BN Superfortress serial number 42-94002. Wartime History Assigned to the 20th Air Force (20th AF), 313th Bomb Wing (313th BW), 504th Bombardment Group (504th BG), 389th Bombardment Squadron (389th BS). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines R-3350-23A serial number W 461944, DW 204593, PW 204696, DW 204670. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers 1504780, 1504846, 1504795, 1505139, 1505157, 1505091, 1504612, 1505171, 1783321, 1784140, 131316, 1504855. Mission History On May 25, 1945 at 5:23pm took off from North Field on Tinian piloted by Captain Cruger G. Edgerton on (Mission 183) a bombing mission against Tokyo to bomb the urban area south of the Imperial Palace including financial, commercial, and governmental districts as well as factories and homes while others bombed targets of opportunity. During the night mission, 26 Superfortress were lost on this mission, the highest single-day loss of B-29s in World War II. Wreckage In fact, this B-29 crashed in the area of Nekozane area of Urayasu in Chiba Prefecture. The bodies of two of the crew remained in the crashed bomber and one of the bodies washed ashore and was later recovered. Search Afterwards, no search was conducted for this bomber. Recovery of Remains Postwar, the remains of the crew were recovered and later transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. The entire crew is buried in a group burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at section 81 site 266. Edgerton was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major. He also has a memorial marker at Branford Center Cemetery in Branford, CT. Hunt also has a memorial marker at Dodson Cemetery in Dodson, TX at NEW Section, Plot 38 Grave H (6-E). Sassaman also has a memorial marker at Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Summit Hill, PA at family plot, grave 3. Wreckage In fact, this B-29 crashed into the sea roughly 1.5km off the coast of Nekozane. Postwar, the crash site area became part of land filled beyond the original coastline and is today part of Urayasu. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Cruger G. Edgerton NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Elba G. Hunt NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Alex J. Alexander NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William G. Hartman NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Rolland W. Hensley NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Frederick Campbell NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Lawson R. Chronister, Jr. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-29A-20-BN Superfortress 42-94002 "94002 (504th BG, 398th BS) lost from unknown cause in Pacific May 25, 1945 while on mission to Tokyo, Japan. MACR 14501. All 11 crew killed." Missing Air Crew Report 14501 (MACR 14501) created May 27, 1945 May 1945 USAAF Overseas Accident Reports - B-29 Superfortress 42-24801 FindAGrave - MAJ Cruger Gallaudet Edgerton (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Maj Cruger Gallaudet Edgerton (memorial marker photo) date of death listed as May 26, 1945 [sic] FindAGrave - 1LT Elba Glendon Hunt (group burial photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Elba Glendon Hunt (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2LT John V McIntyre (group burial photo) date of death May 5, 1945 [sic] FindAGrave - 1LT Alex J. Alexander (group burial photo) FindAGrave - MSGT William G Hartman (group burial photo, news) FindAGrave - SSGT Rolland W Hensley (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Joseph A Sassaman (memorial maker) date of death listed as May 23, 1945 [sic] FindAGrave - SSGT Walter L Gilbert Sr. (group burial photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Alfred C Farr (group burial photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Ellsworth Johnson (group burial photo) FindAGrave - SGT Frederick Scott Campbell Jr. (photo, group burial photo) FindAGrave - Lawson R. Chronister, Jr. (photo, group burial photo) Thanks to Yoji Sakaida for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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